Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-08-22
THE BOOMING WEST. I
SENATOR TELLER TALKS OF COL.
ORADO MINES AND MINING.

Western Development-somethi Of
the United States.
Especial Correspondence
DENVER, Aug. Is
write this letter in the metropolis Of the
greatest mining regions of the world Dem
yer, starting in 1859 as a supply point for min
ers. has been built upon the mineral resources
Of the Rocky mountains, and the immense
amounts Of gold and silver which they pro-
duce still pay q constant tribute to her.
These gold bearing bills. which out Of their
snowy caps look down upon her, contain ap-
parently inexhaustible supplies of mineral,
and Senator Teller tells me that there are
still worlds Of undeveloped mines in Colorado.
Said he As we Travelled together from Denver
to Palmer Lake, the Chautauqua OF the Rock
les: 1.-THE Rocky mountains still contain bill
lions Of gold and silver, lead and copper The
output Of this state will I've as great this year
as it has ever been. We produced last year
more than $23, OOO. 900 worth OF ore, and this
state Is now the richest mineral state in the
Union. We lead in silver and rank second
only to California in gold. Leadville Is the
greatest mining camp OF the world. and fully
half OF the lead supplies of the United States
are obtained there. Lead mining has Jumped
upward as one Of our industries within the
past two decades, and We now export lead in
stead Of importing it. In 1870 we imported
between 40 600 and 50 600 tons Weare now,
believe, the leading lead producing country
OF the world, and in the last two years we
exported nearly $3.50, 900 worth Of it. In
1879 the lead product in Colorado amounted
to only S5,0oo Ten years ago it had risen to
a quarter OF million and 1t now runs at
about g., 900 900 year."
"How about the silver mines"
ave produced last year moro than e14,-
1000 worth Of silver and the state has pro-
duced all told $751; ,0O0, 600 of this metal. We
have silver mines which have enough ore in
sight to keep the miners at work for years,
and new territory is steadily being developed
There is a great deal Of mining territory in
Colorado which has never been touched and
new veins are constantly being found among
the old The old territory was not carefully
worked and much OF the overlooked territory
now proves to be good. l live at Central
City, which was the first of the mining camps.
1t was known as the "fikss peak" Of early
days The output here today is as large as it
was in the past aud the supply seems to be
practically inexhaustible. The output Of gold
in the state has steadily increased within the
past few years, and the amount mined in 1886
was more than twice the output Of 1870 and
was greater than that of any year between
1870 and this time 1t amounted to nearly
81, 50O, 900 little less than one-third Of our
silver product"
"What is the difference between Colorado
and California in the production Of gold and
silver!"
"A look at statistics will show you. In 1885
the Colorado product of these metals
amounted to about s2O, OO0, 600, while those Of
California amounted to only little over
SIS, 000, 900. The gold product Of California
was more than S12, 900, 900, while that of
Colorado was only a little over q, 900 600
In silver Colorado led California by more
than $lS. 0O0. 900 and her total product of the
precious metals was nearly 81, OOO, 600 more
| than Canfornia's."
as there much change going en- Il the
methods of miningr
ayes, there is a constant improvement both
| in the getting out and in the smelling OF the
| ores. We get more out of the earth and moro
out Of the ore than ever before. The mines
are now worked largely by capitalists, and
many Of them pay extraordinary dividends.
One very good paying mine is the Small
Hopes in which l think Senator Palmer is
interested among Others"
"What do you think OF the future of Den.
| verr'
al believe it will be the great metropolis of
the whole Rocky mountain region" said Sena-
tor Teller. ut is growing very rapidly, and II
is adapted for the residence city of this part OF
the country. Every one who makes any
money In Colorado, Wyoming territory OF
New Mexico comes to Denver to spend it
and there is not a more delightful place to
live on the continent. 1t has all the modern
convenences and luxuries, and our citizens
who have made fortunes in mining, cattle
| raising or other ways want to live there.
This is the ambition of us ALL and we all hope
for the day when we can move to Denver. II
will continue to grow with the growth OF the
state, and it will he the biggest city between
| Kansas City and the Pacific slope"
"How has the interstate commerce law
affected your
~ think it is helping us. Any law of the
kind would be better for us than none. The
railroads have always Disseminated against
! Denver and in favor Of Omaha"
"How about the presidential outlookn
at seems to me that the contest for the
Republican nomination will lie between
Blaine and Sherman, and that Blaine car
have the nomination il he wants it. an
not Blaine man, however, and fear he will
not draw any more than the strength Of his
party" 49,
The talk here turned again to the wonderful
development going on west Of the Mississippi
and Senator Teller spoke of how little thi.
progress is appreciated in the east Said he:
Every member Of congress and every pub
lie man who has to deal with the legislation
and government Of this country should be
compelled 20 travel over it. You can learn
little Of the geography or resources of coun-
try out of books or reading newspapers
Personal observation is the only teacher, and
in such a world as the United States, the man
who is to legislate for it, who is to direct its
government, should have an intimate acquain-
lance with its people and with the diverse
interests of different sectiona He should &c
over it often and should remember that q
decade often works an entire change in tn.
character of different sections. Senator Ed
munds used to frequently speak Of western
matters on the floor of the senate. and could
see from his talk that he had never been west
l said to him one day, Senator why don't
you 60 to the west and look into these things
for yourselff
How do you know said Edmunds. with a
surprised look on his face, that have not